March 31, 2009 2:07 pm

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport closed its longest runway early today for a long-overdue rebuilding.

The runway, parts of which date from the airport’s 1947 opening, will be completely rebuilt and equipped with modern lighting and safety systems. Among those safety systems will be a light system that provides airline crews with visual “stop” and “go” signals before they guide their aircraft across the runway to reach the terminal or more distant runways.

The opening of the airport’s $1.1 billion third runway in November enabled the airport to shut down its oldest and longest runway.

The 11,901-foot-long runway is the easternmost of the airport’s three runways. The remaining two north-south runways are 9,426 feet and 8,500 feet long.

The runway will be under construction through the summer. Its reopening is set for September.

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